Mamata calls on Sonia, backs second term for Pranab Mukherjee as president

 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has supported another term for President Pranab Mukherjee during her meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday.

Mamata is the second chief minister from the opposition camp, after Bihar's Nitish Kumar, to support Mukherjee's candidature for the presidential poll in July. 

"It was a very important meeting. We discussed the presidential election as well as the current political situation. Factors like caste, political issues will be considered while deciding the candidate," Mamata said after the meeting.

Mamata, sources told HT, is also open to the candidature of Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Gopal Krishna Gandhi. The Trinamool Congress chief, however, didn't publicly reveal her choices but indicated that opposition parties will meet in next 7-10 days at Sonia's residence to decide on the presidential candidate.

Sources said the opposition is ready to support Mukherjee's candidature provided the government proposes his name. "The government should come forward to build a consensus," Mamata said.

Till date, only Rajendra Prasad got a secord term as president.

Source: Timesofoman